SACVFD 51st Annual Spaghetti Dinner... Commerce City, CO

Saturday, March 24, 2012

17th Judicial District Attorney Don Quick announced that Richard Stewart (DOB: 02/10/1940) was found guilty of killing his 71-year old ex-wife at her work.

Evidence was presented at trial that on April 4, 2011, at approximately 7:30 AM, Stewart went to Edward Jones Financial in Westminster, the place of employment of his ex-wife, Norma Dee Stewart (DOB: 01/08/1940). After Norma’s arrival, Stewart entered the business and shot her in the head, killing her. Further evidence was presented by Deputy District Attorney’s Patrick Costigan and Rhoda Pilmer that Stewart had been arrested in 2008 for domestic violence and that his wife divorced him soon after. Witnesses testified that Stewart had made repeated threats against Norma and her family in the three years following the divorce.
Yesterday, after an hour of deliberation, an Adams County jury convicted Stewart of First Degree Murder (F1). During the sentencing hearing today, Deputy District Attorney Costigan stated that Stewart’s acts were “cruel, remorseless and selfish” and that Stewart “ended the life of a woman much beloved by her family and friends.”

District Attorney Don Quick states, “This case illustrates how domestic violence occurs among all ages and can escalate into homicides, even after the relationships have ended. Although great progress has been made in the past 30 years to assist victims, we need to remain vigilant to intervene early and consistently in cases of domestic violence.”

Adams County District Court Judge John Popovich sentenced Stewart to life without parole.